Richard Marles has confirmed that the number of Australians known to be trapped in Gaza has more than doubled overnight to 45 as Israeli forces prepare to mount a ground invasion into the besieged territory.
The deputy prime minister told ABC Breakfast TV that about 45 Australians, an increase on the figure of 19 on Monday, had now made contact with the federal government but they remained in an “extremely difficult” situation.
“We are looking at ways in which, and working very hard to find ways in which, we can get those people to safety,” Marles said on Tuesday morning.
“And that, obviously, includes working with other countries around the establishment of a humanitarian corridor out of Gaza. That hasn’t happened yet. But we are doing what we can in very, very challenging circumstances.”
The Israeli Defence Force has been amassing troops near the Gaza border after issuing an evacuation order for those living in the densely populated northern half of the strip.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, addressed the Coalition party room on Tuesday morning, saying Israel was “determined to win” its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“We are in a war, a war that we didn’t start nor ask for, but we are determined to win,” the ambassador said.
Parliament moved a motion on Monday recognising Israel’s right to defend itself, but Anthony Albanese also urged the Netanyahu government to “operate by the rules of war”.
About 1,200 Australian citizens have been assisted in leaving Israel by the Australian government since the conflict began, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said on Monday.
But efforts to get Palestinian Australians out of Gaza have been less successful, with some saying they have been unable to reach rescue buses to Jordan.
About 600 Australians have been flown out from Israel, with two additional flights leaving Tel Aviv overnight, Marles confirmed.
The deputy prime minister said there were no more repatriation flights planned as “immediate demand” had been met.
Wong urged on Monday those remaining in the region to use any available options to leave.
“[This] may be our last opportunity to conduct an assisted departure flight for the foreseeable future,” she the Senate on Monday. “We can’t know how the security situation will unfold.”
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza remains closed but international efforts are under way to establish a humanitarian corridor to the strip, which has been cut off from supplies for a week by Israeli forces.
